17 comments

I want to make a comment and while I feel sad for those living there losing everything that house has been a drug house with much criminal activity for far too long. Also, the way I knew there was a fire was the overwhelming smell of a burning meth lab!!!

I agree with you Emily about the smell of a meth lab on fire but I’m pretty sure it’s coming from the woman’s house that drives a white Toyota Tacoma TRD she seems sneaky and there’s people going in and out at all times of the night.

Fred wasn’t a drug dealer or user. He is a nice person, I’ve known him a long time. My family has attended church with him for 70 plus years. He sang in the choir and he grew up in that house. It’s really sad and i wish that I’d done more to help him.

The house was an elderly mentally problematic hoarder’s home. The smell was the hoarded possessions burning, not a meth lab.. He was at a Play at Humboldt State when it was started. I would assume it was intentionally set by one of the low life druggies who have squatted in his house, as he finally took them to Court for an eviction on Friday. He was afraid to evict them earlier, as he was threatened with a retaliation by fire. Do not assume a meth lab, as the house was too full of hoarder items, that a walk thru was so difficult, and no room to have such a drug lab., and he would have asked the police foe help if one was there. I would not have entered that home without a haz mat suit due to the smell from all the hoarded items.. But the elderly man was taken advantage of. by druggies. I have called Adult Protective Services to no avail.

Fred was a hoarder. A serious hoarder. Alot of ppl have tried to help him, with no luck. I’ve know him for several years n not til reciently has there been any problem. He was always quiet n keeps to himself. He’d been letting homeless ppl stay there. I should say homeless tweakers. I overheard one one day, talking about how he ripped off Walmart n was gonna sell some of the stuff. Fred was a nice man with a serious hoarding problem. Been waiting for something like this to happen. Hope he’s ok.

Fred told me they changed the locks so he didn’t even have a key. Eureka Police are useless in these kinds of elder abuse/squatting situations. Time to call our legislators and tell them to change the law to protect the elderly from these “tenants”. I’ve had to deal with more than one of these situations.

He has nothing but the clothes on his back. i am seriously worried that he will have a mental breakdown and will need help this area is unable to provide. I was told however, he remembered the phone number for his ride to church this morning. Hopefully they will be able to help.

I live about 2 houses down and yes-this house was a hoarding-drug activity-squatting problem. One of the men who was there off and on physically assaulted me and faced criminal charges over it. What I am worried about is Fred and his future housing and also living there was a young woman pregnant with twins (due any day) who has lost everything she had. I would also like to say that all who lived there are no less of a person-they are all perfect divine beings in the eyes of God.

This is not an uncommon problem where an older person wants help so offers a place to live to those who offer it. Then loses control over their lives when the invited people take over and won’t leave. The tenant laws in California give a lot of rights and it takes an almost insurmountable amount of paperwork to get them out. The police can’t help until the resistant tenants are ordered out by the court as it’s considered a civil matter.

Another side effect of laws that create rights that are subject to abuse.

Seriously, this needs to change. Even if it’s only an exception for those over the age of 65. There are more people in the area who are suffering from unwanted “tenants” right this minute. It’s clearly elder abuse but the police won’t do anything. It makes me sick.

It’s sad what has happened to that old man. Sadly I know the pregnant women(Ashley Mcgaughey) and her mother personally. They are nothing but trouble. [edit–link to some proof of your accusations or I will delete them.]

The G Street fire was Fred’s childhood home. I’m his sister and our brother has been trying to help Fred for years. It’s been very sad to see what’s happened to Fred over the years. The squatters who lived there contributed greatly to an already difficult situation. A nearby neighbor has given Fred a place to stay, temporarily. Efforts are being made to find a place for Fred to live long-term.
Thank you for your kind words about Fred and your concern about him and the elderly in need of assistance.